CCMA Awards

Each year, the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) honours its Members who have excelled during the past year, with a Canadian Country Music Award. The Awards are handed out each fall during Country Music Week.

The Canadian Country Music Association Awards are voted upon by the membership* in a three stage ballot process, during the first of which, potential candidates who have released product within the eligibility period and meet the criteria outlined in the Rules & Regulations, are brought forward for consideration and nominated by the voting membership through a 'write-in' ballot. The Second Ballot presents the top ten (10) eligible contenders, as verified by the Awards and Balloting committee, who have received the most votes in each category to be voted upon for the Third (and final) Ballot, which contains the top five (5) contenders in each category, who become the final five (5) nominees.

Click here to view the Rules & Regulations for the Canadian Country Music Association Awards.

Should you have an idea for a potential new CCMA Award category, please contact Karina Davison at the CCMA office at kdavison@ccma.org or at 416-947-1331 ext. 218. Click here to review the CCMA Award Category Submission Form.

*A CCMA Member, who has purchased and has a valid membership as of May 1 at 12:01 a.m. ET of the current year is considered to be in good standing and is entitled to one (1) voting right for all applicable CCMA Award categories. Only eligible CCMA Members, as listed as an artist or musician as their Membership Primary Category, are eligible to vote in the seven (7) Musician Award categories. Click here to see the complete list of applicable CCMA Award categories.

AWARD CATEGORIES

Artist Awards

• Album of the Year - Award #1
• CCMA Discovery - Award #2
• Fans' Choice - Award #3
• Female Artist of the Year - Award #4
• Group or Duo of the Year - Award #5
• Interactive Artist or Group of the Year - Award #6
• Male Artist of the Year - Award #7
• Rising Star - Award #8
• Roots Artist or Group of the Year - Award #9
• Single of the Year - Award #10
• Songwriter(s) of the Year - Award #11
• Top Selling Album of the Year - Award #12
• Top Selling Canadian Album of the Year - Award #13
• Top Selling Canadian Single of the Year - Award #14
• Video of the Year - Award #15

Musician Awards

• Bass Player of the Year - Award #16
• Drummer of the Year - Award #17
• Fiddle Player of the Year - Award #18
• Guitar Player of the Year - Award #19
• Keyboard Player of the Year - Award #20
• Speciality Instrument Player of the Year - Award #21
• Steel Guitar Player of the Year - Award #22

Radio Awards

• Music Director of the Year (Large Market) - Award #23
• Music Director of the Year (Medium or Small Market) - Award #24
• On-Air Personality(ies) of the Year (Large Market) - Award #25
• On-Air Personality(ies) of the Year (Medium or Small Market) - Award #26
• Radio Station of the Year (Large Market) - Award #27
• Radio Station of the Year (Medium or Small Market) - #28

Industry Awards

• Booking Agency of the Year - Award #29
• Country Club of the Year - Award #30
• Country Festival, Fair or Exhibition of the Year - Award #31
• Country Music Program or Special of the Year - Award #32
• Management Company of the Year - Award #33
• Music Publishing Company of the Year - Award #34
• Record Company of the Year - Award #35
• Record Company Person of the Year - Award #36
• Recording Package of the Year - Award #37
• Recording Studio of the Year - Award #38
• Record Producer(s) of the Year - Award #39
• Retailer of the Year - Award #40
• Ron Sakamoto Talent Buyer or Promoter of the Year - Award #41
• Video Director of the Year - Award #42

Key Dates

• May 1: Membership Deadline - Membership must be renewed by May 1 at 12:01 a.m. ET to receive voting rights
• Early May*: First Ballot opens
• Late May *: First Ballot closes
• Early June*: Second Ballot opens
• Late June*: Second Ballot closes
• Early July *: Third Ballot opens – Nominee Announcement
• Early August *: Third Ballot Closes
• September*: Winners are announced at Country Music Week during the CCMA Industry Lunch & Awards, CCMA Gala Dinner & Awards and the Canadian Country Music Association Awards (CCMA Awards) Broadcast.

* Exact date varies each year